by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
They showed up from just about every line of work over the past 15 months.
Accountants, administrative assistants, retail staff, health care workers, automotive professionals.
Blue collar, white collar.
From all vocations.
And they arrived united by a love for the outdoors combined with a desire to do good and give something back to the very environment that sustains their passions throughout the year.
The destination? Trail improvement projects, totaling 25 in just as many states — all sponsored by Quadratec’s 50 State, 50 Trail Stewardship Initiative, in partnership with Tread Lightly!
Some projects saw trash pulled from the earth to give it proper disposal. Others put in fencing or signage to help tourists and campers better understand the land. There were site protection events to help shield important landmarks from damage, and restoration gatherings to restore or build up trail areas that had suffered damage of one kind or another.
With all those projects now complete, it also marked the stewardship initiative halfway point.
The whole idea was conceived in early spring 2022 with an eye toward working with clubs, businesses and enthusiasts throughout the country to promote sustainable off-road trail use. Additionally, it sought to help project managers pay for equipment, fees, volunteer support, food, fuel, signage and other miscellaneous trail cleanup event costs.
In all, over the 25 events, the initiative has pulled together 909 volunteers who worked 5,632 hours and tore out 93,874 pounds of trash from the earth while improving 551 miles of trail.
”Now that we are at the halfway part of this program, it has really been an incredible thing for us to be a part of so many groups doing so many great things,” said Eric Ammerman, Quadratec’s Director of Creative Content. “We knew going in that this initiative had the chance to really make a difference on trails, parks and wildlife areas across the country, and I think so far it certainly has had a positive effect.”
The program’s kickoff event was during April 2022’s Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah on the popular Kane Creek trail. Volunteers erected fencing to protect an important historical petroglyph area just off the trail, and also created a foot trail to direct traffic so visitors could continue to enjoy the site without damaging the area.
From there, the 50 Trail, 50 State Trail Stewardship Initiative began to fill in locations throughout the contiguous 48 states, as well as venturing north into Alaska for a project that improved the staging area and parts of the Bluff Cabin Trail in Big Delta.
Other states that have seen projects over the program’s first half include Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Washington, New Hampshire, Montana, Idaho, Maryland, Maine, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, New York, South Carolina, Mississippi and North Carolina.
"We are so thankful for the help from Tread Lightly! and especially the grant from Quadretec, without which, we wouldn’t have had the funding to dispose of this trash and make this area safe for users, as well as wildlife again," said Catherine Fanaro, Colorado 4x4 Girls Founder.
Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through stewardship programs and ethics education to ensure off-roading opportunities are accessible for future generations. For over 30 years, Tread Lightly!, along with its members, partners and volunteers, has worked together to improve access through on-the-ground trail improvement projects, public land cleanups and strategic educational messaging tailored to promote responsible riding.
"Thank you to Quadratec and the amazing volunteers across the country for getting us to the halfway point of the ambitious 50 for 50 program,” said Matt Caldwell, Tread Lightly! Executive Director. “We're very proud of the work accomplished so far and look forward to continuing to grow our impact across the entire United States. It has been inspiring to see the unlimited dedication the off-roading community has to conservation and protecting the places we love to ride."
Quadratec has been a supporting partner of Tread Lightly! for more than 20 years, and a longtime fundraiser for Tread Lightly!’s stewardship programs. The company has also promoted Tread Lightly! and other trail restoration efforts through its Quadratec Cares ‘Energize the Environment’ program.
Clubs and individuals are required to be active, supporting members of Tread Lightly! to be eligible to apply for ’50-for-50’ grant funding. To learn more about the Quadratec ’50-for-50 program, visit Quadratec's 50 for 50 Trails Stewardship Grant Initiative.
Recommended Reading:
Quadratec, Tread Lightly! ’50-For-50’ Public Land Cleanup — Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Quadratec, Tread Lightly! ’50-For-50’ Blue Lakes Recreation Area — Rolling Fork, Mississippi
